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Sunday, 31 January 2016

Leo Tolstoy[1828-1910], was a Russian
author, a master of realisticfiction and one of the world’s greatest
novelists. Tolstoy is best known for his two longest works,War and Peace(1865–69) and Anna Karenina(1875–77), which are commonly regarded
as among the finest novels ever written. During his last
three decades Tolstoy also achieved world renown as a moral and religious
teacher. His doctrine of nonresistance to evil had an important influence on Mahatma Gandhi. He was the embodiment of nature and pure vitality, the incarnation
of the world’s conscience. He was not just one of the greatest writers who ever
lived but a living symbol of the search for life’s meaning.

WHAT MEN LIVE BY

A kind and humble shoemaker called Simon goes out one day to
purchase sheep-skins in order to sew a winter coat for his wife and himself to
share. Usually the little money which Simon earns would be spent to feed his
wife and children. Simon decides that in order to afford the skins he must go
on a collection to receive the five rubles and twenty kopeks owed to him by his customers. As he
heads out to collect the money he also borrows a three-ruble note from his
wife's money box. While going on his collection he only manages to receive
twenty kopeks rather than the full amount. Feeling disheartened by this, Simon
rashly spends the twenty kopeks on vodka and starts to head back home.

On his way home he rants to himself about how little he can do
with twenty kopeks besides spending it on alcohol and, feeling warmed after the
drink, he says to himself that the winter cold is bearable without a sheep-skin
coat. While approaching the chapel at the bend of the road, Simon stops and
notices something pale-looking leaning against it. He peers harder and notices
that it is a naked man who appears poor of health. At first he is suspicious
and fears that the man may have no good intentions if he is in such a state. He
proceeds to pass the man until he sees that the man has lifted his head and is
looking towards him. Simon debates what to do in his mind and feels ashamed for
his disregard and heads back to help the man.

Simon takes off his cloth coat and wraps it around the stranger.
He also gives him the extra pair of boots he was carrying. He aids him as they
both walk toward Simon's home. Though they walk together side by side, the
stranger barely speaks and when Simon asks how he was left in that situation
the only answers the man would give are: "I cannot tell" and
"God has punished me." Meanwhile, Simon's wife Matrena debates
whether or not to bake more bread for the night's meal so that there is enough
for the following morning's breakfast. She decides that the loaf of bread that
they have left would be ample enough to last till the next morning. As she sees
Simon approaching the door she is angered to see him with a strange man who is
wrapped in Simon's clothing.

Matrena immediately expresses her displeasure with Simon,
accusing him and his strange companion to be drunkards and harassing Simon for
not returning with the sheep-skin needed to make a new coat. Once the tension
settles down she bids that the stranger sit down and have dinner with them.
After seeing the stranger take bites at the bread she placed for him on his
plate, she begins to feel pity and shows so in her face. When the stranger
notices this, his grim expression lights up immediately and he smiles for one
brief moment. After hearing the story from the stranger of how Simon had kindly
robed the stranger after seeing him in his naked state, Matrena grabs more of
Simon's old clothing and gives it to the stranger.

The following morning Simon addresses the stranger and asks his
name. The stranger answers that his name is simply Michael. Simon explains to
Michael that he can stay in his household as long as he can earn his keep by
working as an assistant for Simon in his shoe-making business. Michael agrees
to these terms and for a few years he remains a very faithful assistant.

One winter day a customer who is a nobleman comes in their shop.
The nobleman outlines strict conditions for the making of a pair of thick
leather boots: they should not lose shape nor become loose at the seams for a
year, or else he would have Simon arrested. When Simon gives to Michael the
leather that the nobleman had given them to use, Michael appears to stare
beyond the nobleman's shoulder and smiles for the second time since he has been
there. As Michael cuts and sews the leather, instead of making thick leather
boots, he makes a pair of soft leather slippers. Simon is too late when he
notices this and cries to Michael asking why he would do such a foolish thing.
Before Michael can answer, a messenger arrives at their door and gives the news
that the nobleman has died and asks if they could change the order to slippers
for him to wear on his death bed. Simon is astounded by this and watches as
Michael gives the messenger the already-made leather slippers. Time continues
to go by and Simon is very grateful for Michael's faithful assistance.

In the sixth year, another customer comes in who happens to be a
woman with two girls, one of which is crippled. The woman requests if she could
order a pair of leather shoes for each of the girls — three shoes of the same
size, since they both share the same shoe size, and another shoe for the
crippled girl's lame foot. As they are preparing to fill the order Michael
stares intently at the girls and Simon wonders why he is doing so. As Simon
takes the girls' measurements he asks the woman if they are her own children
and how was the girl with the lame foot crippled. The woman explains that she
has no relation to them and that the mother on her deathbed accidentally
crushed the leg of the crippled girl. She expresses that she could not find it
in her heart to leave them in a safe home or orphanage and took them as her
own. When Michael hears this he smiles for the third time since he has been
there.

After the woman and the two children finally left, Michael
approaches Simon and bids him farewell explaining that God has finally forgiven
him. As Michael does this he begins to be surrounded by a heavenly glow and
Simon acknowledges that he is not an ordinary man. Simon asks him why light
emits from him and why did he smile only those three times.

Michael explains that he is an angel who was given the task to
take away a woman's life so she could pass on to the next life. He allowed the
woman to live because she begged that she must take care of her children for no
one other than their mother could care for them. When he did this God punished
him for his disobedience and commanded that he must find the answers to the
following questions in order to be an angel again: What dwells in man?, What
is not given to man?, and What do men live by?

After Michael returned to earth to take the woman's soul, the
woman's lifeless body rolled over and crushed the leg of the now crippled girl.
Then Michael's wings left him and he no longer was an angel but a naked and
mortal man. When Simon rescued him he knew that he must begin finding the answers
to those questions. He learned the answer to the first question when Matrena
felt pity for him, thus smiling and realizing that what dwells in man is
"love".

The answer to the second question came to him when he realized
that the angel of death was looming over a nobleman who was making preparations
for a year though he would not live till sunset; thus Michael smiled, realizing
that what is not given to man is "to know his own needs."

Lastly, he comprehended the answer to the final question when he
saw the woman with the two girls from the mother of whom he previously did not
take the soul, thus smiling and realizing that regardless of being a stranger
or a relation to each other, "all men live not by care for themselves but
by love." Michael concluded, saying, "I have now understood that
though it seems to men that they live by care for themselves, in truth it is
love alone by which they live. He who has love, is in God, and God is in him,
for God is love." When Michael finished, he sang praise to God as wings
appeared on his back and he rose to return to heaven.

Sunday, 24 January 2016

Mother Teresa of Calcutta [1910-1997]:"By blood, I am Albanian. By citizenship,
an Indian. By faith, I am a Catholic nun. As to my calling, I belong to the
world. As to my heart, I belong entirely to the Heart of Jesus."”Small of stature, rocklike in faith, Mother Teresa of Calcutta was
entrusted with the mission of proclaiming God’s thirsting love for humanity,
especially for the poorest of the poor.“God still loves the world and He sends you and me to be His
love and His compassion to the poor.”She was a soul filled with the light
of Christ, on fire with love for Him and burning with one desire:“to
quench His thirst for love and for souls.”

Sunday, 17 January 2016

Albert
Schweitzer [1875 - 1965]was a great theologian, organist, philosopher, physician. He was born in the province
of Alsace-Lorraine [in 1875], then, part of the German Empire. Schweitzer considered himself French and wrote mostly
in French.In 1893 he entered the University of Strasbourg and studied
theology, philosophy and musical theory. By [1901] the time he was 26, he had degrees as a Doctor of Philosophy, Theology and Music.

Between 1900 and 1905 he acted as a minister of a small church
in Strasbourg. During this period he also wrote several books dealing with philosophy and ethics, religion and the music of Bach. He was also considered the world's foremost authority on the architecture of organs as well as one of the most renowned organists.

In 1905, Schweitzer made a radical career change and decided to
devote the rest of his life to the natives of equatorial Africa as a medical missionary. He decided
that he would study to become a doctor of medicine and reentered the
university. In 1913, aged 38, Schweitzer became an M.D.

Why did he choose medicine? Because he was tired of talk and wanted action. And why Lambarene? Because, it was one of the most inaccessible and primitive spots in all Africa, and one without a doctor. Schweitzer considered his work as a medical missionary in Africa to be his response to Jesus' call to become "fishers of men" but also as a small recompense for the historic guilt of European colonizers.

Sunday, 10 January 2016

Sri Andal is considered to be the incarnation of Bhoomi
Devi (Mother Earth). She was found by Sri Vishnu Chittar (the
other name of Sri Peri Azhwar) near a Tulasi plant in his garden, which he maintained for the
purposes of growing fragrant flowers for making floral garlands for Sri Vatapatra
Sayi, the Lord at the temple in Sri Villiputur.

Sri Vishnu Chittar named the child "Goda". Goda's love and devotion to the Lord was unbounded. She used to adorn herself
with the garlands of flowers made by her father for the Lord at the temple to see if she was a good match for her Lord. The Lord instructed Sri Peri Azhwar in his dream that He should receive the garlands of flowers only after they have been worn by the devout Goda.

Nachiar Tirumozhiis a set of 143 verses which are a part of the 4000 hymns ofNalayira Divya Prabandham. In her eagerness to join with Lord Krishna,Sri Andalattempts various methods by which she can attain union with her Lordwhich forms the major part of Nachiyar Thirumozhi. These 143 pasurams (verses) are organized in 14 segments and each one is called "Tirumozhi" and is named after the first phrase of the pasuram, starting from 'tai oru tingalum' (தை யொரு திங்கள்). Each Tirumozhi deals with one specific topic.

Among these, Thirumozhi 6,Vaaranam Ayiramhas a special significance. It details Andal's narration of her dream to her friends about her getting married to Sri Krishna. . The first thirumozhi starts with a plea by Andal to kAmadevan for his help in uniting her with her nAthan, emperumAn. The remaining tirumozhi-s are dedicated to different efforts by Andal to somehow speed up her union with perumAL. And finally she is reunited with her Lord. What follows is the meaning of the first two stanzas of Varanam Aayiram:

I had a dream, O Sister! My relatives fixed the day for my wedding. They decorated a beautiful pandal with kamuhu trees. Madhavan Govindan who once took a form of a lion, entered like a bull, and I saw him in my dream. 557
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Sunday, 3 January 2016

The philosophic poetry of the Azhwars Saints from South India collectively known as the
Nalayira Divya Prabhandham is a rich heritage in Tamil literature and culture. Azhwars were twelve in number, hailing from different walks of life. The four thousand verses of the Azhwars are
considered equivalent to the four Vedas, bringing the message of the Vedas to the common people in the vernacular. The most popular among the Azhwars is the only woman-saint
among them, Sri Andal. Sri Andal is worshipped along with the Lord in all Sri Vaishnava homes
and temples. Young and old alike go to the temples in the early morning hours
during the month of Marghazhi singing her famous Thiruppaavai verses.

Sri Krishna

In Thiruppaavai, Sri Andal, along with her companions, observes the ancient religious rite of
"Paavai NOnbu" which the cowherdesses of Vraja observed in the bygone age, to
obtain Sri Krishna's hand in marriage. Each and every one of the thirty verses has been shown to
contain many hidden inner meanings of high philosophical import. Several Acharyas have
written commentaries on the same. Let us have a look at the first verse "MargazhithingaL" as a sample:

“It is the good full Moon day of the month of Marghazhi. Oh the well ornamented maidens!
Those desirous of taking the bath (in the YamunA) may please come on. Oh the prosperous
young girls of AaypAdi (Gokulam) that is rich and grand (in beauty and wealth)! Lord
NaarAyana will surely yield to us alone the drum (paRai). He is the son of King NandagOpa,
of cruel deeds (towards the enemies), and holding a sharp spear in his hand always. He
(KrishNa) is the young lion-cub of Queen YasOdhA with very charming eyes. He (Lord
NaarAyaNa) has a dark cloud-like divine complexion, (lotus like) reddish eyes and (lustrous)
face (shining) like the bright Sun and Moon. (This Lord NaarAyaNan alone is the Saviour).
(Let us) resort (to Him) performing the Paavai-Nonbhu and get the benefit of praise from the
people of the world. (Oh dear friend, may You recite and learn this).For Sri Andal's THIRUPPAVAI: Annotated Commentary in English pdfby O V Sadagopan: [Click Here]